U.S. Debates Methods to Halt
North Korea's Illicit Exports

By

Jay Solomon Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated May 5, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET

As North Korea threatens to export nuclear devices, hawks inside the Bush administration are privately devising ways to choke off the country's illicit exports. The plans range from establishing an economic embargo against Pyongyang to interdicting North Korean ships on the high seas.

U.S. officials say such plans are nowhere near complete, as the Bush administration continues to debate internally whether to pursue a policy of containment or engagement toward North Korea. Last month, trilateral talks between the U.S.,...